Chapter 321- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (26)
She couldn’t accept the denial of her past, nor could she bear the look of disbelief and disappointment in her husband’s and son’s eyes. It deeply stung Chen Shuyun, igniting a raging hatred in her heart instead.
She turned to Cun Tou and shouted, “I don’t believe it! You must be lying to me. What did Jian Minghui give you to make you tell such lies?”
“No—if it wasn’t Jian Minghui, then it must be Jian Zhengqing. Was it you? Jian Zhengqing, you hypocrite! Did you bribe others to protect your reputation? Are all of you conspiring to deceive me?”
She refused to admit it—absolutely refused. Admitting it would mean invalidating everything she had believed about herself over the years.
If she admitted it, she would become a complete abuser with no justification, acting purely out of her paranoia. It would mean she was entirely in the wrong, that her husband had never hidden anything from her, and that she had always known the truth deep down.
Hearing her words, Jian Zhengqing let out a deep sigh. In his mind, he also felt at fault—not for lying to her, but for failing to truly understand the person who had shared his bed for so many years.
He had genuinely treated Jian Minghui as his own child, hoping he could grow up happily. And while Jian Minghui had indeed grown up, his childhood had likely been nothing short of a nightmare. Jian Zhengqing realized he had failed as both a husband and a father.
He had made up his mind: he would not protect Chen Shuyun. He couldn’t, and he wouldn’t.
Everyone must face the consequences of their actions. Even if Chen Shuyun didn’t turn into a zombie, upon their return to the Pingcheng Base, someone who had betrayed her own people would be placed under strict supervision.
At the base, such individuals lived like penal laborers, toiling endlessly for the bare minimum—often not enough even to stave off hunger. Given the severity of Chen Shuyun’s actions, it was likely she would work until the day she died.
After dealing with Chen Shuyun, there was an unusual amount of leftover stew in the two pots due to the incident with the zombie meat. However, Mu Jin and Jian Minghui remained unaffected, still enjoying their meal with relish.
Mu Jin seemed pleased, likely because the “cannon fodder” had met their downfall. As for Jian Minghui, he had long stopped caring about such minor issues.
Jian Minghui knew that Mu Jin kept a close eye on Chen Shuyun out of concern for him. Especially after exposing Chen Shuyun’s actions, it was clear Mu Jin had done so to stand up for him. The thought of this filled Jian Minghui’s heart with warmth, leaving no room for the sadness or disappointment others might have expected.
Jian Minghui had given up hope in the Jian family long ago. Now, with Mu Jin by his side, the rest no longer mattered. To Jian Minghui, Mu Jin had become the only person capable of stirring his emotions.
The pot that had held the zombie meat was naturally discarded. After finishing their meal, the group resumed their journey.
Since Chen Shuyun hadn’t turned into a zombie, they couldn’t abandon her just yet. The team tossed her into a vehicle under close supervision, prepared to throw her out if she showed any signs of zombification.
Jian Mingyuan and Jian Zhengqing remained silent, clearly shaken by recent events. They seemed unsure of how to face Jian Minghui—or Chen Shuyun, for that matter.
When the group finally reached Pingcheng Base, everyone underwent initial screenings. More than a day had passed, and Chen Shuyun had not zombified but was now a one-armed invalid.
Due to the strong insistence of the ability squad, Chen Shuyun was immediately handed over to the base’s security personnel. The rest of the group gradually settled into their new arrangements, leaving only Jian Zhengqing and a few others lingering behind.
Looking at Mu Jin and Jian Minghui standing before him, Jian Zhengqing finally spoke, his voice tinged with guilt. “Minghui, come home with me. Your brother and I will make it up to you properly.”
Jian Minghui shook his head at those words, smiling as he replied, “I never blamed you. I know you didn’t know about any of this. Let the past stay in the past.”
Jian Minghui no longer addressed him as “Father” and instead spoke calmly. He no longer cared about the Jian family. Subconsciously, he tightened his grip on Mu Jin’s hand, knowing he had found something far more important and meaningful. Without hesitation, he held Mu Jin’s hand and turned away.
Jian Zhengqing watched in mild surprise as Jian Minghui and Mu Jin walked off, their hands tightly clasped. The closeness between them was evident, leaving little doubt about their relationship.
After the initial shock, Jian Zhengqing could only accept it. He had no grounds to oppose their relationship and even felt a sense of relief that Jian Minghui had found someone as strong and capable as Mu Jin. From what he knew, Mu Jin lived a clean and disciplined life, with no rumors of any other relationships.
However, Jian Zhengqing’s thoughts darkened as he recalled the situation with Chen Shuyun, which still required his attention. With a heavy heart, he turned back to his residence, knowing that compensating Jian Minghui would take careful planning and time.
After walking a short distance, Mu Jin glanced at the man beside him, worry flickering in his eyes. He feared that Jian Minghui might harbor some negative feelings after everything that had happened. Yet, seeing no trace of sadness or anger on Jian Minghui’s face, Mu Jin hesitated to voice his concerns.
Noticing Mu Jin’s hesitation, Jian Minghui’s heart warmed even more. Turning to him with a soft smile, he said, “Looks like I’m homeless now. I wonder if my generous benefactor would be willing to take me in?”
Hearing this, Mu Jin’s lips curved slightly. Clearing his throat, he nodded with a teasing smile. “Well, since you’re not bad-looking, I suppose I can make an exception and reluctantly take you in.”
A glimmer of amusement lit up Jian Minghui’s eyes, and their fingers intertwined tightly. Despite the desolation of the apocalyptic world around them, it felt as though a ray of sunlight had broken through, filling the future with hope.
Jian Minghui knew that Chen Shuyun would face the punishment she deserved. Losing an arm was only the beginning. For him, both Chen Shuyun and the Jian family were now firmly in the past.
Jian Zhengqing was indeed a capable man. Even in the post-apocalyptic world, the order within the Pingcheng Base was maintained with impressive efficiency.
Jian Minghui followed Mu Jin back to his residence, a multi-story apartment building that appeared well-kept and spacious. The apartment was large enough to comfortably house three to four people, but given Mu Jin’s significant contributions to the base, it was no surprise that he had an entire floor to himself. Nobody would dare question this arrangement.
However, as they approached the building, Jian Minghui was surprised to see Lou Bin and Shi Haoyu walking toward them, their hands full of supplies. It was then that Jian Minghui learned that Mu Jin had already arranged for Lou Bin and Shi Haoyu to live in the same building, occupying the floor directly below them.
He realized this thoughtful arrangement was Mu Jin’s way of looking out for him, and his heart couldn’t help but swell with emotion. Even after entering their apartment, the smile on Jian Minghui’s face lingered.
The base was equipped with an independent power supply, ensuring the building was fully functional despite its modest appearance. Mu Jin’s apartment was tastefully decorated in a minimalist style and looked impeccably clean, suggesting that someone had come to tidy up in advance.
The refrigerator contained only a few long-lasting items, but fresh ingredients could be obtained from the communal dining hall in exchange for contribution points. While the able-bodied and those with abilities could venture out to scavenge for supplies and fight zombies, the less capable residents could find suitable jobs within the base. Though their contribution points were lower, surviving and supporting themselves wasn’t difficult.
Finally back at his place, Mu Jin was in high spirits. Rather than preparing dinner, he decided to use his host’s memories to guide Jian Minghui to the dining hall, where they exchanged contribution points for two hearty meals to take back home. After eating their fill, the two decided to retire early.
After a soothing hot bath, Jian Minghui lay down on the comfortable bed. Watching the faint, flickering light from the bathroom and the blurred silhouette visible through the frosted glass, he found the scene unusually captivating. For the first time since the apocalypse began, Jian Minghui felt truly at ease, his spirit completely relaxed.
After a while, Mu Jin finally emerged from his blissful hot shower, looking relaxed and refreshed. Since there were no outsiders in the apartment, he casually wrapped a towel around his waist and tossed a smaller towel straight into Jian Minghui’s lap. With an air of natural authority, he said, “Dry my hair for me.”
“Yes, my dear patron,” Jian Minghui replied with a playful smile, sitting up on the bed. Seeing Mu Jin’s confident demeanor only made him feel happier.
With gentle hands, Jian Minghui began to towel-dry Mu Jin’s damp hair. His eyes, however, couldn’t help but wander over the fair skin exposed before him. As his fingers occasionally brushed against Mu Jin’s neck and the area behind his ears, the casual touches were enough to subtly tease. Sure enough, it didn’t take long for Mu Jin’s ears to turn a bright shade of red.
Noticing this, Jian Minghui’s gaze grew darker, filled with unmistakable affection. Once he finished drying Mu Jin’s hair, he tossed the towel aside and pulled Mu Jin into his arms from behind. Leaning close to his ear, he murmured with a soft sigh, “Baby, let me hold you properly.”
Mu Jin turned to meet Jian Minghui’s loving gaze, his cheeks flushing a deeper red. With a shy yet tender smile, he leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on the corner of Jian Minghui’s lips, feeling as though his heart had finally settled into place.